Otto Warmbier, American Student Released From North Korea, Dies

Otto Warmbier, an American student, spoke to reporters in Pyongyang, North Korea, in February 2016. He had been detained at Pyongyang airport that January.Credit
Kim Kwang Hyon/Associated Press

Otto F. Warmbier, an American college student who was released from a North Korean prison last week after spending 17 months in captivity and more than a year in a coma, died on Monday at an Ohio hospital where he was receiving treatment.

In a statement, Mr. Warmbier’s family said the 22-year-old died on Monday at 2:20 p.m.

“Unfortunately, the awful torturous mistreatment our son received at the hands of the North Koreans ensured that no other outcome was possible beyond the sad one we experienced today,” the statement said.

“When Otto returned to Cincinnati on June 13th he was unable to speak, unable to see and unable to react to verbal commands,” the statement said. “He looked very uncomfortable — almost anguished. Although we would never hear his voice again, within a day the countenance of his face changed — he was at peace. He was home and we believe he could sense that.”

Mr. Warmbier, a University of Virginia honors student, was detained at the Pyongyang airport in January 2016 at the end of a five-day tour of North Korea organized by a Chinese travel company.